Better Use of Visible Focus

Better Use of Visible Focus in SAGE Vantage*

By Scott Harris, Sr. Content Development Manager, and Jonathan Hritz, Sr. Product Manager

The Challenge

Imagine trying to navigate a website with a mouse whose cursor you can’t see, or navigate using your keyboard without knowing where you are on the page. Frustrating? You bet. Enter visible focus. “Visible focus” helps users navigating a web page with a keyboard know which element (such as links or buttons) they are currently on, or which element is in “focus.” Vantage's design is full of buttons, links, dropdown menus, text-inputs, and more, so it is imperative that all Vantage users know where they are on a page at any given moment.

The Solution

SAGE has enhanced the Vantage student and instructor user experience by improving aspects of visible focus across the platform. Some examples: 

• Calendar elements now have visible focus after opening, allowing a user to select dates more easily.
• The “focus” outline around buttons has been increased in size across the site, making it easier for users to know where they are on a page.
• The “Long Description” button is now part of visible focus, allowing users to access image descriptions with a keyboard.
• The navigation banner now supports improved focus, with each tab prominently displayed so that users know where they are navigating more easily. 

Example:

All these seemingly subtle changes to visible focus add up to a better overall user experience for instructors and students navigating Vantage with a keyboard. 

*Published 07/22. © 2022 SAGE Publishing. All rights reserved. All other brand and product names are the property of their respective owners.